March 30, 2020
Re: COVID-19 Pandemic
Dear Semiahmoo House Society Community,
I am addressing this letter to the whole Semiahmoo House Society community: people we support, the families of people we support, home share providers, and all our staff members. For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be working together, with as few boundaries as possible to ensure that everyone is supported and safe.
Thank you all for the proactive steps that you have all taken to ensure that you and your loved ones are safe at home. I realize that this is very difficult for many of you and I appreciate what you are enduring to keep your loved ones and the community safe.
March 30 Update
Group Homes
We are now set with SHS Staffed Residential Workers only working in one home for the duration of the crisis. Thank you to all staff members who stepped up to make this a reality.
Personal COVID-19 Emergency Plan
Nolda Ware has led the development of a Personal COVID-19 Emergency Plan document that will be used to ensure that everything that needs to be thought about and planned for during the crisis is recorded. This would include thinking about such things as what a person needs to ensure that they are able to get groceries; how the person will be able to access their bank account; and what the person and their supporters will do if someone in a house gets sick with COVID-19. SHS staff members should be contacting all the people we are funded to support in our services this week to discuss and figure out by whom and how these plans will be created. The document is a good one and can be used by anyone in the community to ensure they have thought about all the possibilities during this crisis.
Online and Telephone Support
Most of our Community Service support is now taking place online. Support staff have been using social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram and business platforms such as Zoom to communicate with the people they support and their families, but sometimes a phone call works best. Please let us know if you (the person SHS supports) would like to receive more telephone calls or online contact and we will work on making that happen.
WISE Employment Solutions
WISE services are closed until further notice but we are in contact with job seekers and participants and supporting them remotely. Please connect with your assigned Employment Specialist if any additional support is required and/or connect with Seema Tripathi at s.tripathi@shsbc.ca or 778 888 5916.
Peninsula Child Care (PCC)
PCC remains closed at present, but we are planning on reopening it on April 6th if it is needed for children of our staff members who are supporting people in group homes, health providers, and first responders.
Additional Support
If you need additional support during these difficult times, please contact the relevant person listed at the end of this letter (Lise, Brianna, or Gale).
What this all means to you
Unfortunately, this means we need to continue staying at home. This is likely going to be our situation for the next five weeks, and likely more.
| Lise Boughen
Director of Inclusive Living 604 536 1242 ext. 227 |
Staffed Residential (Group Homes)
Chorus Apartment Supports |
| Gale Cooper
Manager, Community Support Network 604 536 1242 ext. 231 |
Home Share Providers |
| Brianna Hopaluk
Community Services Manager 604 536 1242 ext. 232 |
Personal Development Services
Transitions Focus Group Rec and Leisure |
| Liz Deschenes
Community Services Director 604-536-1242 ext. 234 |
Peninsula Child Care
Acquired Brain Injury Services |
Sincerely,
Doug Tennant
CEO, Semiahmoo House Society
Resources
While there is much media coverage of the COVID-19 virus it is important to be sure the information is reputable and up to date. Here are five sites that will keep you informed (google the name if this is not an electronic letter):
- Public Health Authority of Canada
- BC Centre for Disease Control
- BC Ministry of Health
- Government of Canada Travel Advisories
- World Health Organization (WHO)
SHS’s communications about COVID-19 and our response can be found here:
www.uniti4all.com/coronavirus-communications/